WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University softball team, celebrating Senior Day on their NSIC doubleheader against Minnesota State Moorhead on Saturday, April 29, entered their contests in a tie with the Dragons for third place in the league standings.
When the dust settled on Alumni Field between WSU and MSUM, seniors
Cammi Riemer,
Libby Neveau, and
Marissa Mullen helped the Warriors earn a pair of one-run, come-from-behind victories, winning 5-4 in game one and 3-2 in the nightcap.
Winona State 5, MSU-Moorhead 4
In game one, the visiting Dragons were the first team to dent the scoreboard, scoring a run in the top of the first inning but WSU answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second when
Macy Brodin singled home
Teaghen Amwoza who doubled to open the inning.
MSUM regained the lead in the third, parlaying a pair of singles and a fielders choice into another score, but Winona State staring pitcher
Abby Smith struck out a pair of Dragons to end the inning and limit the damage.
Both teams were then held scoreless in the fourth and fifth frames, but in the bottom of the sixth, things changed.
Winona State's
Libby Neveau led off with a home run - her 13th of the year - to draw the teams level at 2-2. WSU would go on to take advantage of a Dragon walk and an error to plate two more runs on base hits by
Savannah Serdynski and
Abbie Hlas, pushing Winona State to a 5-2 advantage.
Although MSUM would claw back a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, WSU would hold on for the 5-4 win, recording the final out with two MSUM runners in scoring position.
Abby Smith got the start in the Warrior circle, looking for the opportunity to earn her 17th win of the year. The sophomore from Hartland, Wis. did just that, picking up the victory by throwing six innings, striking out three, and conceding four runs, two of which were earned.
Abbie Hlas entered the circle in the top of the seventh, successfully closing out the game and claiming a save in the process.
The MSUM pitching staff in the game included four different Dragons, with Eliya Johnson being tagged with the loss.
Offensively, WSU was led by
Abbie Hlas who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, the only multi-hit Warrior in the game. In addition to
Libby Neveau's solo home run,
Macy Brodin and
Savannah Serdynski picked up RBIs in the game.
Overall, Minnesota State Moorhead scored four runs on eight hits and had two errors, while Winona State tallied five runs on seven hits with one miscue.
Winona State 3, MSU-Moorhead 2
The second game saw
Abbie Hlas start in the circle for WSU and go the distance in the 3-2 Warrior victory. Hlas would allow a pair of first-inning runs to the Dragons but then hold the visitors scoreless the rest of the way, striking out seven and walking just one.
In addition to her stellar pitching performance, Hlas was also a Warrior catalyst at the plate, going 3-for-3 overall with two runs scored.
Teaghen Amwoza was also dialed-in in the batter's box, going 2-for-3, including a double, joining Hlas and
Marissa Mullen in collecting extra-base hits in the game.
Winona State would score single runs in the first, second and fifth inning, but the trio of scores would prove to be all that was needed en route to Hlas' 13th win of the season. MSUM threatened to close the gap in the fourth inning when Avery Steffen led off with a single. However, Warrior catcher
Logan Anderson's pinpoint throw on a Steffen stolen base attempt registered as a key out in the inning, and Hlas would go on to strike out the next two Dragon batters.
MSUM put runners aboard in the top of the seventh as well, but some solid Warrior defense and a game-ending strikeout by Hlas saw Winona State take the game 3-2 and claim the senior day sweep.
The Dragon's Avery Steffen took the loss for Minnesota State Moorhead, one of four pitchers to appear in the contest. MSUM finished with two runs on eight hits and committed one error.
For Winona State, the Warrior's battle-back victories ran their win streak over the Dragons to 13 straight; MSUM last beat Winona State on April 16, 2016, in a 3-2 ballgame. Overall, WSU scored three times on eight hits and had one error in the contest.
Winona State (35-14, 18-6 NSIC) will close out the 2023 regular season tomorrow when they host Northern State University on Sunday, April 30 in Winona. The Warriors and Wolves are set for a noon first pitch at Alumni Field.
